This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Western Australian government is launching a new Housing Diversity Pipeline (HDP), aiming to see new developments of government land and boost housing choices across the state.
The pipeline has been designed to enable new developments to be built within close proximity of the state’s major transport corridors and to METRONET stations.
“The Housing Diversity Pipeline is another example of the McGowan Government’s reform to housing delivery, which is helping to boost the availability of social and affordable housing in Western Australia,” said John Carey, minister for housing and lands.
This announcement follows the Western Australia’s Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage appointment of Anthony Kannis as its new director general.
In the first tranche of the HDP, 12 government-owned landholdings will be released, including ten metropolitan and two regional sites.
The sites in the first tranche are locate in Albany Highway, Kelmscott; Merrifield Avenue, Kelmscott; Zebina Street, East Perth; Cecil Avenue, Cannington; Future High Wycombe ; Station Precinct, High Wycombe; Thomas Street, West Perth; Gwenyfred Road, South Perth; Brearley Avenue, Redcliffe; East Street, East Fremantle; Smith Street (Stirling Towers), Highgate; Brown Street, Busselton; and GreenView Estate, Kalgoorlie.
“These sites are in fantastic locations and close to public amenities like future train stations. We want to hear from developers, community housing groups and builders about what they can bring to the table,” said Carey.
The HDP is also targeting developments that boost social and affordable housing in the state, with more than $2.1 billion currently committed to be invested into the social housing sector over the next four years.
The government is seeking developers, builders and community housing providers to participated in a registration of interest process, enabling the industry to put forward their own ideas.
“We know there is a need for a more diverse housing mix in Western Australia and I am confident we will see some really fantastic development ideas through this process,” added Carey.
Following the ROI process, a more targeted EOI process will begin to enable approvals and support for the developments, with a EOI beginning immediately for the Smith Street site in Highgate.
“Through this registration of interest, we’re calling on developers, builders and community housing providers to engage with us as we look to deliver quality mixed tenure housing across 10 metropolitan and two regional sites,” said Rita Saffioti, planning minister.
“This will bring forward new developments and assist in creating more housing choice throughout the suburbs. It will also create more vibrant activity centres.
With the WA government is specifically seeking out a community housing development for the Highgate site.
The state government last year announced its commitment to boost investments into social housing by $875 million in the 2021-22 State Budget, including the establishment of the $750 million Social Housing Investment Fund, bringing the governments commitments up to $2.1 billion.
